Javier Milei achieved strong legislative success. After he managed to impose his veto on the Retirement Mobility Law on September 11, just a month later he did it again with the University Financing Law.
First of all, it is a political victory. The President is in the minority in both legislative chambers and will continue to be. It cannot build a majority, but it did prove effective in articulatingtogether with the PRO and the collaboration of Mauricio Macri, a blocking minority, capable of nullifying the decisions of Congress.
Also read: The first reaction of the Government after the ratification of Milei’s veto: “Fiscal balance is state policy”
Furthermore, it was not just any law. No one can doubt that the university claim embraces an absolutely legitimate cause. But, From the first moment, Milei objected that the rule undermined fiscal balance. Perhaps the budget committed by that vetoed law was not that high, but it is true that the legislators who promoted it never said how they were going to finance it.
The message that has just been sent by winning the vote also comes at an opportune time because yesterday the national budget began to be discussed and the message from the Executive Branch is that its items are negotiable, but the goal of zero deficit never is.
But secondly, it is also a strong message to the markets, to the IMF and to potential investors, who seem to be the true recipients Milei is targeting. Nothing will distort your economic course, not even the most legitimate causes. Ayer, the country risk fell to 1156a mark that had not been achieved since April.
Everything happens during a month where the division of waters became clearer than ever. On one side are La Libertad Avanza (LLA), the PRO, some circumstantial allies who cast their votes in Congress and the dialogue-oriented CGT, which is led by Héctor Daer and Gerardo Martínez.
Also read: The ruling party in Deputies managed to maintain Milei’s veto of the University Financing Law
On the other hand, there are the UCR, Kirchnerism, the union members of the transport table who consider their CGT peers to be cowards, and the most intransigent unions such as the aeronautical unions. Cristina Kirchner’s decision to preside over the PJ – even though she is close to the Cassation confirming her conviction – and his photo with Pablo Moyano at the Patria Institute closed the picture.
Milei brought Cristina into the ring and the former president gladly accepted it. The scenario was set out in terms of going to the future or returning to the past.. In the middle, there were the many university students, professors and citizens who in good faith want a fundamental solution for the public university. However, the substantive debate will have to wait for another opportunity.